Facts: Nelson Shepherd Watts

Nelson S. Watts

Born about 1810

Husband of Lucinda (Ballard) Watts
Father of Charles Claiborne Watts
Grandfather of Hubert Bennie Watts

Children of Nelson and Lucinda Watts:

Charles Claiborne Watts

Mary A. Watts

Martha Watts

Sarah E. Watts

Thomas N. Watts

Ellen S. Watts

John R. Watts
(source for John R. Watts - 1860 census) 

Lucinda Watts

Samuel N. Watts

(source 1850 census)
(source 1870 census)

1850 Census

Facts: Charles Calvin Watts

Charles Calvin Watts (Sr.)

Born October 21, 1924, in Rockbridge County,  VA

Died March 18, 2010, in Roanoke, VA

Husband of (1) Darys Bernadine (Beamer) Watts

(2) Frances (Bryant) Keith Watts

(3)  Violet May (Saunders) Worley Watts

Children of Calvin and Darys Watts:  

Jerry Allen Watts

Children of Calvin and Frances Watts:

Charles Calvin Watts, Jr.

Occupation:  Farmer

(Cause of death:  Cardiac arrest/cancer)

Laid to Rest at the High Bridge Presbyterian Church

Census Suggestion and Notes....

I have begun to include census images in some of the blogs.  The larger two options are "X-Large" and "Original Size" images.  X-Large isn't quite large enough, but the the original size is FAR too large--and overtakes the menu at the right.  When clicked on, the images pop out and enlarge slightly, but the best option may be to right click, save, and then view (and enlarge) with (Windows) Picture Viewer.  


When the census was taken, an enumerator visited each residence in sequence.  The homeowner (or renter) is listed as the "head of household."  (I have seen females, for example--widows, listed as "head of household.")  Everyone who lived in the home is listed--including boarders and servants.  


The information available on the census may vary by year.  Generally, the age of each person enumerated is listed.  (Children less than a year old are listed in fractions...a 3 month old is listed as 3/12.)  In some years, it asks for the age at which the couple were married.  It lists if the head of household owns or rents the home, and it lists the occupation of each resident.  (Farmer, housewife, in school, etc.)  In some years it asks for the state in which each person was born.  In some years it asks if the person can read or write, and if there has been any military service.  


Note that enumerators wrote names as they heard them.  "Octavia" might become "Octavie" if the person being interviewed pronounced it that way.  




Prior to a specific year, the census was listed by the head of household only.  The family (and other residents) were counted as statistics.  The form asks for the number of each residents who fall into printed categories....like "white females between the ages of 0 and 5."  It will also ask for the number of "Negro females between the ages of 0 and 5."  Etc.


The last year the census images has been made public was for 1930--for privacy reasons.  On April 1, 2012, the government will release the images for 1940.  

John Adam Barger (Sr.)

John Adam Barger (Sr.)

Born  about 1717 in Germany

Died in Gilmore Mills, VA

John Adam Barger

John Adam Barger

Born 1754, in Germany

Died January 1832, in Gilmore Mills, VA

(source:  Rootsweb)

Husband of Mary (unknown) Barger

Married 1775

Laid to Rest:  Presbyterian Cemetery, James River Plantation

Children of Joh Adam Barger and Mary Barger:

William Preston Barger

Nicholas B. Barger

Frederick Henry Barger

John Barger II

George Washington Barger

Adam Barger

Elizabeth Barger

Jacob Barger

Katherine Barger

Peter Barger

David Barger

Mary Ann Shafer

Mary Ann Shafer

Born December 28, 1801, in Rockbridge County, VA

Died May 12, 1887

(Source:  High Bridge Church cemetery record, August, 1928

Wife of William Preston Barger

Laid to rest at High Bridge Presbyterian Church

Children of William Preston Barger:

John Alexander Barger

Mary Ann Barger

Eliza Jane Barger

Nancy Agnes Caskey Barger

Martha Elvina Barger

William Preston Barger, Jr. 

Jacob Barger

Sarah Catherine Barger

Emma Barger

(Source:  Rootsweb)

William Preston Barger

William Preston Barger

Born  April 18, 1794, in Gilmore Mills, VA

(Source:  Rootsweb)

Died  April 3, 1870

(Source:  High Bridge Church cemetery record, August, 1928

Husband of Mary Ann (Shafer) Barger

Laid to rest at High Bridge Presbyterian Church

(Credit to Ms. Johnston via Ancestry.com)

Death Index of Rockbridge County (includes name of William Preston Barger)
He is listed as 76 years old, a farmer, and the cause of death was "paralysis."

Children of William Preston Barger:

John Alexander Barger

Mary Ann Barger

Eliza Jane Barger

Nancy Agnes Caskey Barger

Martha Elvina Barger

William Preston Barger, Jr. 

Jacob Barger

Sarah Catherine Barger

Emma Barger

(Source:  Rootsweb) 

1860 Census 

1865 IRS Tax Assessment
(Note the items taxed...income, gold watches, carriages, silverware.)
William Barger of Gilmore's Mill is listed on Line #25.

Elizabeth A. Fry Barger

Elizabeth A. (Fry) Barger

Born June 6, 1832, in Rockbridge County, VA

Died May 1, 1883, in Rockbridge County,  VA

(Source:  High Bridge Church Cemetery record--August, 1928 

Wife of John Alexander Barger 

Laid to rest at: High Bridge Presbyterian Church

John Alexander Barger

John Alexander Barger 

Born on February 8, 1826, in Gilmore Mills, VA

Died November 13, 1909, in Gilmore Mills, VA
(Source:  High Bridge Cemetery record, August, 1928

Husband of Elizabeth A. (Fry) Barger 

Married December 15, 1853

    From the book "Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia" published 1884:
    "JOHN A. BARGER- was born on the estate where he now resides near Gilmores Mill, in Rockbridge County, February 8, 1826. His father's parents were German-born, and on coming to this county settled in Pennsylvania for a time, and then emigrated to Virginia, located opposite Gilmores Mill, and raised a family of twelve children. The father of John A., William Barger, married Mary A. Shafer, who was born in this county, and at his death he owned over a thousand acres on James river, on part of which John A, is now living.
    The subject of this sketch is very successful as a grain and grass farmer, having two hundred acres under cultivation and one hundred acres in timber. Near Natural Bridge, December 15, 1853, John A. Barger married Elizabeth Fry, who was born in Rockbridge county, near Buffalo Forge, June 6, 1832. She was a daughter of Matthew and Sarah Fry, both born in this county and now deceased. After nearly thirty years of wedded life Mrs. Elizabeth Barger died on 1st of May 1883. The genealogical record of the children of John A. Barger and wife is:
    M. William, born October 7, 1854, married and living near Gilmores Mill
    Sarah C., born November 13, 1857, died September 1, 1858;
    John J., born June 16, 1859, and
    Mary E., born April 6, 1862, live at home;
    Nannie J. born April 8, 1864, married S. D. Sizer and lives at Natural Bridge;
    Martha Frances, born May 15, 1867;
    George W., November 22, 1869; George Washington
    Virginia E., August 19, 1875- are at home.
    John A. Barger enlisted in 1862, in Company F, 27th Virginia Infantry, and served under Jackson in his famous campaign in the valley, and afterward was connected with the nitre and mining bureau. His brother William was one of the first soldiers to answer the call from Rockbridge county, and served through the entire war without furlough or wound, in Company C, 1st Virginia Cavalry, until April 6, 1865, when he was killed in Prince Edward County, near Farmville, at High Bridge, three days before Lee's surrender. John A. Barger's postoffice address is Gilmore's Mill, Rockbridge county, Virginia."
    From the book: "The Barger Journal II" published in 1939:
    "John Alexander Barger, son of William Barger and Mary A. nee Shafer, was born at the homestead, at Gilmores Mills, Rockbridge Co., VA, being a descendant of John Barger, settler at Gilmores Mills, Rockbridge Co., VA, late of Augusta Co., VA. Farmer at his father's place; married in 1853 to Elizabeth Fry of Natural Bridge. Was a Confederate soldier in the Civil War, remaining in the service the entire four years. He died at his home November 13, 1908. There was a family of eight children: Matthew W., Sarah C., John J., Mary E., Nancy J., Martha F., George W., Virginia E."


(Source:  Rootsweb)

Remembrance--Ralph Woodrow Pyles

(Note the year of death is misprinted.  (Should be 2012.)